Buddleia plant named ‘SMNBDD’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Buddleia  plant named ‘SMNBDD’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; leathery and durable leaves; freely flowering habit; large and dense conical inflorescences with numerous dark red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Buddleia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SMNBDD’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Buddleia plant, botanically known as Buddleia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SMNBDD’.

The new Buddleia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Buddleia plants with strong branches and attractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Buddleia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in July, 2015 in Grand Haven, Mich. of Buddleia hybrida ‘Lilac Chip’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,016, as the female, or seed, parent with Buddleia hybrida ‘Miss Molly’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,425, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Buddleia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. during the summer of 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Buddleia plant by softwood stem cuttings in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since the summer of 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Buddleia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Buddleia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMNBDD’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMNBDD’ as a new and distinct Buddleia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Leathery and durable leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large and dense conical inflorescences with numerous dark red         purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Buddleia differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Lilac Chip’, in flower color as plants of the Buddleia have dark red purple-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Lilac Chip’ have purple pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Buddleia have longer inflorescences than plants of ‘Lilac Chip’.

Plants of the new Buddleia differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Miss Molly’, in growth habit as plants of the new Buddleia are more compact than plants of ‘Miss Molly’.

Plants of the new Buddleia can also be compared to plants of Buddleia hybrida ‘Pink Micro Chip’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,547. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Buddleia differ primarily from plants of ‘Pink Micro Chip’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleia are larger than plants of ‘Pink         Micro Chip’.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Pink Micro Chip’.     -   3. Plants of the new Buddleia and ‘Pink Micro Chip’ differ in         flower color as plants of the new Buddleia have darker red         purple-colored than plants of ‘Pink Micro Chip’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Buddleia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Buddleia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SMNBDD’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of a plant of ‘SMNBDD’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in three-gallon containers in polyethylene-covered greenhouses in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. Plants were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleia hybrida ‘SMNBDD’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Buddleia hybrida ‘Lilac Chip’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,016.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Buddleia hybrida ‘Miss Molly’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,425. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures averaging 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 40 days at             temperatures averaging 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically tan in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Deciduous perennial shrub; compact,             upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; rounded             appearance; relatively short internodes; dense and bushy             appearance; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 64 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 80 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: Freely branching habit with             about 25 primary lateral branches developing per plant.             Length: About 42 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length:             About 2 cm to 4 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 15° to             65° from vertical. Texture: Initially, pubescent, then             becoming glabrous with development. Color: Close to 199A;             pubescence, close to 196A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and appearance.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 8 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Serrate; slightly undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous, coriaceous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescence along midvein, venation             prominent; coriaceous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to NN137A; venation, close to 145C. Developing and             fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 148C;             venation, close to 138C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper             surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged on terminal and axillary panicles; inflorescences             face mostly outwardly; panicles long and conical in shape;             freely flowering habit with more than 100 flowers developing             per inflorescence; flowers face upright to outwardly             depending on position on the panicle; flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Fragrant; sweet, honey-like, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower continuously from mid-summer into the early autumn in             Michigan.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Color: Close to 71A.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 4 cm to 10 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong             to obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Slightly acute. Margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; soft. Color: Developing petals,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 72A. Fully developed             petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 72A; color may             fade slightly with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate to ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly             pubescent. Color, upper surface: Towards the base, close to             145C and towards the apex, close to 143A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 145B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: Upright to outwardly. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             145B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four. Filament length: About 0.5 mm. Filament color: Close             to 26A. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther color: Close to 155B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 11C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Oblong. Stigma             color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Buddleia. -   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Buddleia have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Buddleia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Buddleia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and to tolerate     temperatures ranging from about −31° C. to about 38° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Buddleia plant named ‘SMNBDD’ as illustrated and described. 